Abstract: A MOLLE system compatible garment has a lightweight attachment structure with a skeleton of horizontal bands connected by a vertical bands. The garment has a unitary bearing frame assembly composed of a glued layup of a substrate which is adhered to an outside layer. The layup is cut to define holes delimiting horizontal bands interrupted at regular intervals by vertical bands presenting attachment points that correspond to those of a conventional PALS webbing system.

Abstract: A MOLLE system compatible garment has a lightweight attachment structure with a skeleton of horizontal bands connected by a few vertical bands. The horizontal bands are thus accessible from both the interior and the exterior permitting accessories to be attached to either side of the garment. The bands may be sewn with regularly spaced vertical seams to each other or to a plastic substrate. The horizontal bands are connected with supportive vertical bands which serve to retain the shape of the garment, and which do not interfere with the regularly spaced loops of the horizontal webbing bands. Conventional accessories can be attached to both the interior and the exterior of the garment.

Abstract: A ballistic armor helmet has two or more shell elements which are fixed to one another to define one or more ventilation gaps. The shell elements preferably overlap to keep projectiles from entering the helmet.

Abstract: A device for carrying an ammunition magazine has a band which encircles a conventional magazine and which has two downwardly extending plastic tabs. The two plastic tabs are spaced sidewardly to define an downwardly opening, downwardly extending gap, which permits the tabs to be received within openings in two adjacent loops presented by a standard MOLLE webbing on a Pouch Attachment Ladder System or PALS grid on a vest or other clothing item. The tabs are shaped to slide behind standard MOLLE webbing and engage the webbing to hold the magazine securely until the user grabs the magazine and pulls it away from the MOLLE webbing. The tabs are biased towards the magazine, and have a lower protrusion which engages beneath a belt, allowing the same device to be attached to a belt.

Abstract: An accessory system has one or more accessory elements which are removably attachable to a waist belt. A loop is fastened to the rear wall of each accessory element to define a passage between the rear wall and the loop which extends generally perpendicularly to the direction of the belt. A first part of a two-part fastener such as a snap is attached to an exterior surface of the loop. A strap is fastened to the accessory element rear wall spaced from the loop. A second part of the two-part fastener is configured to mate with the first part of the two-part fastener. The second part is fixed to the strap, so the strap is capable of passing through the loop, and around the loop to bring the first part and the second part of the fastener into engagement to retain the belt between the strap and the accessory rear wall.

Abstract: A lightweight, secure, and low profile adjustable locking buckle has a first steel loop which overlies a second steel loop with a rear member spaced from a front member by two side members. The first loop front member has a forward projection which extends frontwardly and is dimensioned to fit within a central opening in the second loop. Each side member of the second loop has a ramped portion, such that the front member is spaced upwardly from the rear member. A fixed strap encircles the rear portions of the first loop and the second loop and is fixed to a supporting element. An adjustable strap extends beneath the first loop front portion and the second loop front portion, turns over the first loop forward projection and beneath the second loop front portion to be releasably secured to itself. Side tabs may be formed on the loops to facilitate adjustment.

Abstract: A handgun holster permits sideward extraction of the weapon, and engages with the central portions of the handgun without regard to accessories mounted to the front or beneath the barrel. The holster has a main element which engages the central region of the pistol in a snap fit between two opposed arms. Lateral projections extend from the back wall to restrict the side-to-side displacement of the gun and two resilient flaps extend around the engaged gun, providing additional retention, and covering the on/off switch of any flashlight accessory. The main element is connected to a mounting assembly to permit the main element to be set at any desired angular orientation with respect to the mounting assembly. The mounting assembly has two expandable parts with opposed flanges which permit mounting to either a conventional belt, or to a series of webbing pockets, such as in the military's PALS webbing attachment system.

Abstract: Ballistic material side elements are shaped to cover portions of a wearer's face and selectively attached to a ballistic helmet. The side elements cover the sides of the wearer's head, but leave room to avoid interfering with hearing needs and goggles. These side elements are held in place by connecting them to the existing helmet shell with an encircling strap and band, or to the straps and hardware of the helmet retention system by receiving portions of the straps through loops on the interior of the side elements. A front ballistic member may join the side elements to cover a significant portion of the wearer's face. The ballistic material is formed of a plurality of layers with a resin and joined by the application of pressure. Higher pressure in the forming of the side elements produces stiff members which stay in place when attached to the helmet.

Abstract: A ballistic armored component attaches to the existing retention straps of common combat helmets and provides protection to the otherwise exposed lower skull and upper neck region. A fabric covering contains a soft armor or hard armor insert, and is mounted by straps or other fasteners to existing straps found in conventional helmets. The armored component adds additional protection from ground-level or subterranean munitions, by placing a ballistic shape on the lower skull region (occipital region), providing significant additional ballistic coverage with minimal weight and bulk. The fabric shell may also be connected directly to the helmet shell, to allow the component to withdraw within the helmet when the wearer's neck is flexed rearwardly.

Abstract: A soft armor compound curved compliant ballistic element is received within a pocket formed on a uniform garment having a main body which encircles the body of a wearer, and which is stretchable to conform to the wearer's body shape. The garment has two limb encircling sections, i.e., sleeves or pants legs, which position the garment with respect to the wearer. Pockets are formed on the garment sleeves, legs, or other regions to overlie those portions of the wearer's body which it is desired to protect. The soft armor elements are received in the pockets and are retained by the garment in close proximity to the portions of the wearer's body which it is desired to protect, such as a shoulder, a knee, a thigh, an elbow, an arm, a bicep, a forearm, the lower back, or the groin.

Abstract: The ballistic groin protector of the present invention is preferably a compound curved sheet comprised of a stack of multiple layers of ballistic material, for example material of Kevlar® fibers, or Spectra® fiber material. The stack may be stitched around the periphery. To obtain more stiffness a more or less thick plastic stiffening shape may be formed together with the layers of ballistic material. The ballistic protective element is preferably somewhat compliant and not so stiff as to excessively interfere with movement of the wearer. The ballistic element may be enclosed within a fabric bag and suspended from a belt, and have a rearwardly opening cup shape to serve to protect the groin of a wearer.

Abstract: A garment such as a shirt or pants has a front layer with portions which define a central opening defined by an inner periphery and positionable to overlie a portion of the joint to be protected such as a knee or an elbow. A removable protective insert is larger than the central opening and has a unitary cap sewn thereto. The cap has an upper segment separated from a lower segment by a bending joint defined by at least one groove which extends substantially across the cap. The upper segment and the lower segment are separately fixed to the protective insert by stitching. The upper segment and the lower segment have an outwardly projecting flange which overlies the protective insert, the flange having portions which engage the front layer of the garment between the cap flange and the protective insert. A slot in the insert ventilates through the front layer.

Abstract: A protective body armor system for protection against ballistic threats has an armored element such as a vest with front and rear ballistic armor. A long-sleeved shirt is worn beneath the ballistic armor which has a wicking, lightweight, low thermal insulation torso element. Two long sleeves are connected to and extend from the torso element. The torso element is substantially overlain by portions of the armor element, while portions of the sleeve extend beyond the armored element. The shirt has a durable collar connected to the torso element and to the two sleeves. The collar extends upwardly from the armored element. The collar is less resilient than the torso element, and serves to connect the two sleeves and to restrain the garment from undesired distortion.

Abstract: A shoulder-worn soft good allows a user to carry ammunition magazines across a front portion, and supplies in the back, predominantly water and communications equipment. The device also functions as a sling for the user's weapon. It is a single piece of equipment that supplies the four basic needs of the soldier: ammunition, water, communications equipment, and weapon.

Abstract: An accessory system has one or more accessory elements which are removably attachable to a waist belt. A loop is fastened to the rear wall of each accessory element to define a passage between the rear wall and the loop which extends generally perpendicularly to the direction of the belt. A first part of a two-part fastener such as a snap is attached to an exterior surface of the loop. A strap is fastened to the accessory element rear wall spaced from the loop. A second part of the two-part fastener is configured to mate with the first part of the two-part fastener. The second part is fixed to the strap, so the strap is capable of passing through the loop, and around the loop to bring the first part and the second part of the fastener into engagement to retain the belt between the strap and the accessory rear wall.

Abstract: A lightweight, secure, and low profile adjustable locking buckle has a first steel loop which overlies a second steel loop with a rear member spaced from a front member by two side members. The first loop front member has a forward projection which extends frontwardly and is dimensioned to fit within a central opening in the second loop. Each side member of the second loop has a ramped portion, such that the front member is spaced upwardly from the rear member. A fixed strap encircles the rear portions of the first loop and the second loop and is fixed to a supporting element. An adjustable strap extends beneath the first loop front portion and the second loop front portion, turns over the first loop forward projection and beneath the second loop front portion to be releasably secured to itself. Side tabs may be formed on the loops to facilitate adjustment.

Abstract: A hat has a first part of a hook and loop fastener defining a large patch along the underside of its brim. One or more flashlights have stiff plastic housings, each of which has a patch of a second part of the hook and loop fastener. The hook and loop fastener patches allow the flashlights to be positionably connected to the underside of the brim, providing adjustable illumination for the wearer of the hat.